Indicating and alarm mechanism for the movements of gases in mines.



A. SZABODOS & H. MUELLER.

INDIGATING AND ALARM MECHANISM FOR THE MOVEMENTS 0F GASES m MINES.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 9, 1912.

1,064,869, Patented June 17, 1913.

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INDIOATING AND ALARM MECHANISM FOR THE MOVEMENTS 0F GASES 1N MINES.

APPLICATION FILED JANA), 1912.

1,064,869. Patented June 17,1913.

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INVENTOR 5 BY m ' ATTORNEVQ COLUMBL DhANOGRAl'N cu. WASHINGTON, u. c.

A. SZABODOS & H. MUELLER.

INDIOATING AND ALARM MECHANISM FOR THE MOVEMENTS 0F GASES IN MINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 1912.

. 1,0 4, 9 Patented June 17, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES INVENTOR5 N welder.

ATTORNEYS COLUNXBIA PLANOURAPH 60., WASHINGTON, 1:. c

A. SZABODOS & H. MUELLER. INilIGATING AND ALARM MECHANISM FOR THEMOVEMENTS 0P GASES IN MINES.

APPLICATION FILED JANA), 1912. 1,064,869. Patented June 17, 1913.

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ANTONY SZABODOS AND I-IELLENA MUELLER, OF NEW MICHEL, BRITISH COLUMBIA,CANADA.

INDICATING AND ALARM MECHANISM FOR TI-IE MOVEMENTS OF GASES IN MINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 17,1913.

Application filed January 9, 1812. Serial No. 670,256.

. To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, ANTONY SzABoDos andHELENA h iiUnLLnR, subjects of the King of Hungary, residing at NewMichel, Province of British Columbia, Dominion of Canada, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Indicating and Alarm Mechanismfor the Movements of Gases in Mines, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Our invention relates to improvements in indicating and alarm mechanismfor the movements of gases in mines, and has for its principal objectthe provision of means which will visually indicate the approximatelocation of the stratum located between the clear air and the moist gaspresent in mines and other places, which stratum comprises a mixture ofthese two elements, this indication following the movements of thestratum vertically, and also providing a signal which will be operatedwhen this stratum passes to a position where it may be dangerous to theminer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a de *ice of thischaracter so constructed as to require the use of no material whichwould tend to cause explosion; also to eliminate all requirements forchemical action as a basis for the operation of the indicator.

Further objects are to provide a construction which is simple andefficient in operation, sensitive to changes, which will provide foraccurate indications, which is compact, and which can be manufacturedand installed at a relatively low cost.

To these and other ends, the nature of which will be readily understoodas the invention is hereinafter disclosed, our invention consists in theimproved construction and combination of parts hereinafter fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularlypointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, in which similar reference characters indicatecorresponding parts in each of the views, Figure 1 is a front elevationof a device constructed in accordance with our invention; Fig. 2 is acentral longitudinal vertical sectional view of the same; Fig. 3 is avertical sectional view taken on the line of IHIII of Fig. 1; Fig. t isa detail view of the frame which supports the cage structure and towhich the remaining parts are connected; Fig. 5 is a cross sectionalview taken on the line VV of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a similar view taken onthe line VIVI of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a detail view partly in section andpartly in elevatlon showing the general arrangement of the alarmmechanism; Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of the adjustable indicatingdevices; Fig. 9 1s a vertical section of the same; Fig. I0 is adiagrammatic view showing the position of parts in the operation of thedevice; F1g. 11 1s a detail sectional view showing the carrler formingthe supply for the gases or other elements used in connection with thefloats.

In mining operations it is substantially the universal finding thatthere is practically a fixed relationship of air and which issubstantially constant, excepting that the volume may vary, the elementsbemg generally in the form of strata, a diagrammatic representation ofwhich is shown in Fig. 10; the relative arrangement or relationship ofthese elements is, reading upwardly (disregarding the question of firedamp or black damp which may be present In a form so diluted with air asto be ordinar1ly non-explosive or may not be present in any form, andwith which the present invention does not deal), in the following orderclear air, a mixture of the air and mo st gas in a Zone between the two,the moist gas, and the dry gas, these strata being indicated in Fig. 10.The exact depth of each strata may vary according to conditions, butthese variations do not materially affect the mining operation, so faras personal safety is concerned, excepting where the variation causesthe depth of the clear air stratum to be decreased to such an extent asto cause the moist gas to pass to a position where it will be liable toaffect the miner. As there is always a stratum which is practically amixture of the pure air and the moist gas between the clear air properand the moist gas proper, it will be clear that if visual indication oralarm mechanism be employed which will give an accurate location of thisparticular stratum, sufficient warning will be given to permit miners toreach a place of safety. In view of the fact that these strata areprovided by the relative weight of the elements comprising the strata,the clear air being heavier, it will be readily understood that by theemployment of mechanism which will have the effect of placing a floatstructure so that it will ride at a point corresponding to the upperbounds of the clear air stratum, and connecting this float structure toan indicating mechanism and an alarm mechanism, variations in positionof this line will be indicated by the movements of the float; similarlythe opposite boundary of the mixed air and gas stratum may be indicatedby a similar float, thereby providing for a visual indication of thelocation and the width or depth of the zone between the air and gasproper. It is this particular type of mechanism and operation whichforms the subject matter of the present invention.

20 designates a support, shown more particularly in Fig. 4:, whichcarries the remaining portions of the apparatus, this support having atits top spaced-apart caps 21, which, in connection with opposing capstructures 22 located at the bottom of the support serve to retain inposition two cages 23 and- 23, these cages being preferably formed intwo parts, one of which is fixedly secured to the support, while theother is in the form of a structure hinged thereto and acting in thenature of a door, said parts preferably forming a cage cylindrical incross section, although any other particular cross sectionalconfiguration may be employed. Each cage structure is preferably formedof gauze or other metallic woven fabric to permit of a maximum amount ofexposure of the interior of the cage to the surrounding conditions, thecaps 21 and cap structures 22 being preferably provided with openings24, to facilitate this effect, the openings in the caps 2l beingpreferably protected against weather conditions by hood structures 25.This particular arrangement of parts provides for two spaced apartvertical shafts within which the float structures presently describedare adapted to move, the space between these shafts being used for thepurpose of housing the indicating'mechanism and the tripping mechanismfor the alarm.

The float structures, best shown in Fig. 2, preferably comprise twoshell structures 26, of suit-able material, and preferably connected tomove in unison by suitable connections 27. The. material of which theshells 26 are formed is such as to provide for maximum strength withminimum weightflohe shells being intended to receive suitable gases ormixtures, either free or under compression for the purpose. of providinga proper balance of the float structure on the line which divides theparticular strata. As will be obvious, the contents of the shells mustbe such as to provide the location result, the purpose being to providea sufficient sustaining action to prevent a float from sinking into theclear air stratum,

or to rise into the mixture stratum beyond the normal position of theshells in the two strata, where the float is intended to indicate theapproximate level of the clear air. For this purpose any suitable gas orcombination of gases may be employed. For instance, the lower shell atthe left of Fig. 2 may contain a mixture of air and gas, such ashydrogen, the latter being suflicient to balance the weight of thecontainer or shell, while the upper shell may contain hydrogen or othergas which is suflicient to counteract the weight of the container, butinsuflicient to cause the container to rise within the stratum. As willbe readily understood, when the containers or shells have been properlybalanced to cause them to maintain a practically fixed relationship withthe upper bounds of the stratum, the float will remain substantiallystationary excepting when such bounds change their position eitherupwardly or downwardly, such changes of course affecting the supportafforded by the surrounding conditions, and consequently permitting thefloat to move accordingly to regain its normal relationship with thestrata. For the purpose of charging the shells or containers, each isprovided with an inlet port which is valvecontrolled, and by means ofwhich the contents may be readily changed to meet condi tions. Toprovide for this, we may employ a container for the diflerent gases andcompressed air, such as shown more particularly at 28 in Fig. 11, whichdis-closes a compartment structure which has inlet and outletcontrolling devices and also is preferably provided with a flexibleconnection which can be detachably connected to the proper float atwill. Obviously, suitable gage structures can be employed in connectionwith this structure. The floats 26 may, if desired, be used as theindicating means, but we prefer to employ in connection there with asuitable indicating m chanism which consists in the use of an indicatingnumber 30, shown more particularly in Figs. 8 and 9, mounted on asuitable cord orother structure 81, said cord extending over a sheave orpulley 32 above the shafts, said cord having one end secured to theupper portion of the float and having the other end adapted to bemounted upon a suitable take-up de vice which may be in the form of aspring actuated pulley 33, the tension of the spring being sufficientonly to take up any slack which may be provided in the cord or cable 31,but which will not be sufficient to affect the movement of the float inthe opposite direction in which the take-up device is unwound. Eachfloat is provided with an in dependent take-up device, although, if desired,'the floats may be connected to move in unison positively, theseparate structure, however, being preferred, since both floatsnecessarily move in the same direction when there is any materialmovement in the device.

The indicators shown in Figs. 8 and 9 are preferably in the form of ahousing within which is mounted a spring plunger through which the cordor cable extends, the construction being such that under normalconditions, the member will have a fixed position on the cord or cable,due to the particular arrangement, as indicated in Fig. 9. The housingfor this member may be formed in suitable manner, that shown in thedrawings being to provide a casing formed in two parts being dividedcentrally in a hori Zontal plane, thereby permitting of a readyassemblage of the parts. This particular arrangement is provided for thepurpose of permitting adjustments of the indicator on the cord or cable.For instance, the strata are subject to variations in heat conditions;where the change is to any material extent, the balanced effect of thefloat is varied so that the normal condition or position of the floatwould change and change the indicators, when in actual fact the changedpositions do not affect the normal location of the strata bounds. Underthese conditions the indicator is adjusted on the cord or cable to takeup for these variations, after which the movements are as before withthe exception that the length of cable between the inclicator and thefloat has been varied. This is of especial importance since theindicator, which includes the finger 34 projecting through an elongatedslot 35 in the support- 20, operates in connection with a fixed scale,indicated at 37, this scale acting as a guide in determining therelative positions of the strata.

As will be seen by reference to Fig. 10, the width of the stratum ofmixed air and gas is the distance between the planes which pass betweenthe two shells or containers of each float. Obviously, should the widthof this zone increase, each float being separately controlled, would besubject to movement according to which direction the increase was had,while a decrease would operate in the opposite manner to decrease thedistance between these planes. The markings on the scale 37 are of anydesired type suitable for the purpose, being intended more particularlyto show distances which may be traversed by the indicating member. Forinstance, the scale on the left in Fig. 1 is intended to provide forindications of clear air, it being readily understood that as the upperbound of the clear air moves upwardly, the float at the left in Fig. 2will move correspondingly and thus permit the take-up device to move theindicator 3O downwardly, which movement would be indicated on the scaleat the left by shifting from an upper portion of the slot to a lower oneand indicating a greater degree of safety. On the contrary the float atthe right in Fig. 2 is intended to indicate the movements of the lowerbounds of the moist gas, and as the danger increases by reason of thedownward movement of the lower boundary of the stratum, this indicatorwill be moved upwardly by the downward movement of the float at theright and thus indicate the danger. point. For the purpose of indicatingthe temperature, we may provide a thermometer 38; this will, in additionto serving its ordinary purposes, enable the operator to determine justwhere the indicating members should be placed, since it is intended thatfixed instructions will be given in this respect to be followed inconnection with changes in temperature.

In addition to the indicating features just described, we provide analarm device which will operate automatically at the desired time whenthe conditions surrounding the device indicate the approach of danger.This device is preferably in the form of a spring motor operatingthrough a train of gea 'ing and escapement pawl which carries one ormore tappers for one or more gongs, the general construction beingindicated conventionally in Fig. 7, the motor being indicated at 89, thetrain of gearing at 40, the escapement device at 41, and the gongs at'42. The train of gearing is held normally inactive by the use of a triplever 43, which, by a suitable means, such as a light spring, places anobstruction in the path of teeth 44 carried by the escapement wheel,said lever extending into the path of movement of the indicating memberfor the clear air, the movement of said indicating member to a positionwhere it will move the trip lever out of its locking position, releasingthe train of gearing and permitting the spring motor to begin operationto sound the alarm. Since it is desirable that this sounding or alarmingtake place upon the approach of the danger, we preferably employ theindicator for the clear air for this purpose, since variations in thethickness or width of the mixed zone will not affect the operation ofthe alarm.

As will be readily understood, the principles of operation of thepresent device are based more particularly on positive movements of thestrata in a vertical direction, these strata movements being due to theincreased or decreased amount of gas contained in the mine, taking upfor variations in movements and positions with certainty and providingfor an exceedingly sensitive indicator which is positive in its action.

\Ve have herein disclosed a preferred way in which our invention may becarried out, but it will be obvious that many and varied changes andmodifications therein may be made, such for instance as the change inform and proportion of parts or the use of different types of individualmechanism,

' these changes and modifications, however,

not' affecting the general principles underlyingthe present invention,and We desire it to be understood that We reserve the right to make anyand all such changes and modifications as may be found desirable ornecessary in so far as they may fall Within the spirit and scope of theinvention and its underlying principles as expressed in the accompanyingclaims.

Having thus described our invention, What we claim as new is:

1. In a device of the character described, a support having a verticalshaft extending into adjacent strata of air or gas or a mixture thereof,a float mounted to move longitudinally of said shaft and supported bysaid adjacent strata to indicate the boundary therebetween, a take-updevice, a connection between said device and said float, an indicatingmember mounted on said connection and adapted to move in correspondencewith the movements of said float, and alarm mechanism mounted in thepath of said indicating member and adapted to be tripped at apredetermined point in the length of movement of said member.

2. In a device of the character described, a vertical shaft open toatmospheric pres sure, and a float mounted in said shaft, said floatcomprising connected shells or containers movable in similar directionsas a unit and having contents adapted to support the float at apredetermined position with respect to particular strata, said floatbeing adjustable as to specific gravity and free to move incorrespondence with the vertical movements of such stratum.

3. In a device of the character described, a pair of vertical shafts, afloat in each shaft, ach float being capable of adjustment as tospecific gravity, aid floats being movable independently of each otherand having different flotation qualities to permit them to combinedlyindicate the opposite boundaries of a predetermined stratum or zone.

4. In a device of the character described, a pair of vertical shafts, afloat in each shaft, each float being capable of adjust ment as tospecific gravity, saidfloats being movable independently of each otherand having different flotation qualities to permit them to combinedlyindicate the opposite boundaries of a predetermined stratum or zone, andan independent indicating member movable in correspondence With themovements of each float.

5. In a device of the character described, a pair of vertical shafts, afloat in each shaft, each float being capable of adjustment as tospecific gravity, said floats being movable independently of each otherand having different flotation qualities to permit them to combinedlyindicate the opposite boundaries of' a predetermined stratum or zone, anindependent indicating member movable in correspondence With the movements of each float, and alarm mechanism operative by the movements ofone of said members.

In testimony whereof We have respectively afiixed our signatures inpresence of tw Witnesses.

ANTONY SZABODOS. HELLENA MUELLER. I

lVitnesses for Szabodos:

MAX H. SRoLovITz, A. KENNEDY. lVitnesses for Mueller:

M. GQRMAN, J. P. APPLEMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

